The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi on Monday granted additional time to the CBI to file the verification reports for all accused in the land-for-job scam case. Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act), Vishal Gogne, deferred the hearing for framing charges to December 19. This case involves prominent figures like the RJD chief, Lalu Prasad Yadav, his family members, and other defendants. The CBI has filed a charge sheet citing IPC Sections 120B (Conspiracy), 420 (Cheating), 467, 468, and 471, along with sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, namely sections 11, 12, 13, 8, and 9.
The court needs to decide whether to frame charges under these sections. During the prior hearing on December 11, the court had also extended the deadline until December 15 for the CBI's verification report. The CBI accused Lalu Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, and son Tejashwi Yadav among 103 others, with four of them having passed away. Allegations claim widespread corruption from 2004-2009, during Lalu Prasad's tenure as the Railways Minister.
Lands were transferred at undervalued prices under the names of his family members and affiliated companies, mainly through cash transactions. In return, those providing the lands were given jobs in Group 'D' posts across various railway zones. The Union Home Ministry had already granted permission for the CBI to prosecute Lalu Prasad Yadav. Meanwhile, both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and CBI are conducting a parallel probe into the alleged ₹600-crore money laundering trail linked to land transactions in Patna. This past July, the Supreme Court refused a plea from Lalu Prasad Yadav seeking a trial suspension.
Yadav had challenged the Delhi High Court's order, which denied halting the trial following the CBI's charge sheet under the Prevention of Corruption Act in the Supreme Court. Recently, a notice was issued by the Principal District and Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge to the CBI regarding a transfer petition filed by former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi. The petition seeks to transfer her case from the court of Special Judge Vishal Gogne.
